It knew his emerging reputation, had seen the power of his seemingly effortless and equally graceful swing. It marveled at the speed he used to track down line drives in the gap, breaking the hearts of opponents dreaming of getting an extra-base hit past the Lackawanna League’s best player.

That’s what he became by the time he reached his senior year at Scranton High School. The best. The brightest. The kid with all the potential and, yet, a leader who balanced his intensity with a playful approach, loosening up his teammates by doing cartwheels or handstands in the outfield.

“He was a quiet kid, but he had that ability at a young age to make those around him better,” Scranton baseball coach Jamie Higgins said. “He is a kid who was having a lot of fun playing a game he loved. He never took things too seriously. His teammates saw that and fed off that energy.

“And then five or 10 minutes before the game, he would just flip that switch, and he would be focused on playing at a high level.”

Indeed, McCarthy is a fierce competitor.

Sometimes, it’s hard to tell. When he stands tall in the left-handed batter’s box, because his calm approach more resembles that of someone playing a game of wiffle ball in the back yard. His aw-shucks personality off the field masks the passionate athlete he is on it.

That devotion to the sport, his remarkably unique combination of size and speed, and a smooth natural swing have led him down the road to the most desired destination in college baseball.

A sophomore outfielder at the University of Virginia, McCarthy will play on the sport’s grandest stage in Omaha, Nebraska, site of the 2014 College World Series. He and the Cavaliers begin their quest for a national title tonight at 8 against the University of Mississippi in the double-elimination four-team Bracket No. 2.

“This is what you dream about as a college baseball player,” McCarthy said. “We are proud of what we have accomplished, but at the same time the job is not done.”

■■■

As far back as he can recall, McCarthy has enjoyed playing baseball.

Like many of his friends, he played football and did so with power and quickness. He also spent time on the basketball court, an enforcer in the paint even in youth league games.

But America’s pastime grabbed his attention.

“I loved playing football and playing basketball, but there was just something about baseball,” McCarthy said. “Nothing else compares to it and it is something that I love to do.”

His attraction to the diamond seemed inevitable.

Joe McCarthy Sr. had a storied career as a highly touted star from Scranton Central High School in the 1970s. He excelled in football and basketball too, but baseball is where he really stood out. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers while playing at Seminole Community College and the University of South Carolina.

And the younger McCarthy displayed some of that same raw talent.

“He could always hit,” his father said. “We thought he was going to be a pretty good athlete. He seemed like there was just something about him where baseball was going to be his thing.”

As an up and comer, McCarthy began to forge his identity in the North Scranton and Central City Little Leagues. He could turn on a pitch and deposit it far beyond the chain-link fences that stood more than 200 feet away.

His coaches said, that the ball would rocket off his bat. It sounded different.

Even then, McCarthy displayed a quiet confidence and high level of determination.

During the dog days of summer, he and his teammates were going to go to a local water park in celebration of the previous night’s win.

But McCarthy didn’t join them.

He called the coach, Tony White, that morning and declined the invitation so he could stay home to watch tape of his at-bats from the night before, looking to see what he could do to improve.

“You could see he was a natural athlete,” said White, who along with his brother, John, coached McCarthy when he played for Central City Little League.

“He was laid back, but he was a competitor. He never lost sight of what he wanted.”

■■■

It became obvious after a few years of making life miserable for pitchers in Northeastern Pennsylvania, not to mention a record-setting power display at the Senior Little League Regional Championship tournament in New Jersey where he slammed five home runs and had 14 hits in 20 at-bats as a 16-year-old, that colleges were going to be eager to land McCarthy’s services.

After his junior year, and time spent sharpening his skills with Baseball U, a travel team that plays a daunting summer schedule, he committed to play at Virginia.

“I got to see how the game was played at the next level early on with my travel team,” McCarthy said. “The coaches at Baseball U really helped me to develop my game.”

Still, he remained a three-sport athlete at Scranton.

A running back in football, he often bowled over defenders with his high knee drive, rumbling for 1,189 yards with 15 touchdowns as a senior, helping his team win the District 2 Class AAAA championship. He was also the muscle of Scranton’s up-tempo basketball team that raced up and down the court while playing with flair and style.

“I love two-sport kids and I love three-sport players even more,” Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said. “What he learned on the football field, all the yards he ran for and the touchdowns he had, and how competitive he was translates onto the baseball field. The athleticism it takes to play basketball also serves him well.

“I am a big believer in recruiting players who are multi-sport athletes. They are more competitive and tougher than someone who specializes.”

There was only a short transition period as McCarthy’s talent dictated that he start as a freshman at Virginia.

“Going into your first year of college, life it is very different,” McCarthy said. “It is something you can’t really prepare for, you just have to adapt to it. The athletic and academic challenges were tough, and balancing it took a little bit of time.

“With the help of my friends and the coaches I was able to do it.”

That rookie season, McCarthy made quite an impression.

By hitting .336 with 75 hits, and adding 51 RBIs, while scoring 48 runs, he helped the Cavaliers reach 50 wins. He filled the trophy case with several postseason honors, among them being named to the Baseball America Freshman All-America team, the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team and the all-ACC second-team.

He was also the ACC Freshman of the Year.

“The advice I gave him was the same advice my father gave me, and that was to stay relaxed and keep your poise,” his father, Joe, said. “I just told him, always do what you are capable of doing and to always be calm.

“He makes me so proud, because even though inside he may be rattled, he never shows it.”

■■■

Coming off that remarkable first season, McCarthy continued to be driven.

He took to the weight room, got stronger, leaner and faster by dropping 15 pounds. He played for the Madison Mallards, a College Wood Bat team in Wisconsin, where he hit .321 with 71 hits, 13 doubles and four home runs last summer.

Only a sophomore and anchored in at the cleanup spot in the Virginia lineup, McCarthy has become a leader. He and Tunkhannock graduate Mike Papi, who hits third, combine to be a formidable 1-2 punch for the Cavaliers.

Patience at the dish makes McCarthy a stingy out almost every at-bat. After sparking Virginia (49-14) to a Super Regional series win over Maryland, he heads into the College World Series hitting .305 with six home runs, 46 RBIs, 50 runs scored and 32 walks.

“You look at a stat sheet and those guys are right on top of it,” O’Connor said. “They have made huge impacts on our program and are fierce competitors who love to win. They are really good teammates. Their backgrounds are such that they come from really good families that have given them the tools to be successful at this level.”

With his success, McCarthy has built quite a following.

Friends and former teammates make the drive to Charlottesville, Virginia to cheer on Scranton’s latest favorite son and NCAA star.

“That is something that really motivates me,” McCarthy said. “I get a lot of support. A lot of the times, I find myself playing for all my friends and family back home. I am so grateful to have so many people behind me and supporting me.

“My family and friends are really special to me.”

His father, Joe, his mother, Joanne, sister Morgan and brother, Jake, who will be a senior at Scranton and has already committed to play baseball at Virginia beginning in the fall of 2015, regularly attend home games and will be in Omaha.

“This could be a once in a lifetime thing,” his mother, Joanne, said. “When the kids were little, we watched the College World Series every year and now to get there and to see Joe play in it is so great.”

This is a special time for McCarthy.

He’s a kid who fell in love with baseball and is living his dream.

“You can never imagine playing baseball could lead to something like this,” McCarthy said. “I am just so thankful for this opportunity.”

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